History of the Rise and Progress of the Arts of Design in the United States

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1834. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... 426 Francis Alexander. Thousands would be sensible of the beauty of a cherub who would have no feeling for the sublimity and mystery of the Moses of Buonarotti. With this view the subject was selected. There certainly was an innocent little conspiracy between us that this group should pave the way to a Washington for the capitol, and glad am I to say that the plot, (I believe the only one of the kind of which I have to accuse myself, ) has completely succeeded. Its benefits, I firmly believe, will be as great to the nation as to the artist. I do not know that I can communicate any other facts that will be of use to the work you have in hand, for the success of which you have my best wishes. 1 am, dear sir, ever your friend, J. Fenimore Cooper. It will be to me a most gratifying circumstance, if my country should owe a perfect resemblance in marble of the country's friend--the country's honoured guest--the unbending man of truth, who resisted tyranny in every shape, either in threats, or tortures, or seductive smiles--to the suggestions of a pure patriot, and great writer, and the skill of an accomplished artist and gentleman, both natives of the soil.* CHAPTER XXIX. Francis Alexander--his autohiography--James Whilehorn--J. A. Adams--William Allen Wall--J. F. Hanks--G. W. Tyler--Frederick S. Agate--Alfred Agate--Frederick R. Spencer--John G. Chapman--H. Augur--C. C. Wright-- J. R. Lambdin--W. M. Oldie-- Wm. Maine--G. W. Newcombe--John W Dodge--Jane Stuart--Abraham John Mason--John Ludlow Morton--W. J. Hubard--Samuel Seymour--George W. Hatch. FRANCIS ALEXANDER--1825. This gentleman, now (1834, ) one of our most successful portrait painters, has answered my inquiries with so much naivete, such good feeling and good sense, that I should do injustice to hi...